Wednesday, May 1, 2013

5/1/13 In Class Essay

Felt pretty well about this essay. Not that great for a take at home essay but for an in class essay I thought it was decent. Don't hold back though. Tell me what I should change. 
Petry uses several literary devices to create a setting for her character (Lutie) that is unwelcoming and discomforting for her. Petry paints a picture of a dirty cold city with specific diction. The tone of the passage is dark, unpleasant, and almost apocalyptic. 

Petry starts the passage out with a "cold ... wind" and "garbage cans".  These words set the tone for the rest of the passage.  It's cold and everywhere in this environment there is metal.  It's a very inorganic setting.  There is a brief moment however where Lutie is directly characterizes which change the tone (very briefly). She has "soft"and "gentle" hair. She is also "warm". This is the first element of organic matter. She  is warm and gentle put into a very cold and harsh setting.

The wind is almost another character itself and Lutie's main conflict.  The wind is personified with the word "fingered" and "fingering". When the wind is "fingering" Lutie's neck, its almost like the wind being described as perverted.  It is touching her neck and she can't stop it.  The wind is also further contrasted to Lutie as a foil with direct characterization. "It's violent assault" gives the wind violent character element. It also lifted dirt into peoples eyes and blinded Lutie from seeing the sign. This contrast with Luties's warm gentle and innocent personality. He is cold, violent  and perverted. She is, gentle, warm, and innocent.  This is the relationship she shares with this inorganic environment setting. 

Petry is able to create a setting for her character that makes her character stand out.  The setting is cold uncomfortable and inorganic.  Lutie is placed in this setting as a contrast it and for it to be her main conflict. 

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